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Re: posting #1585
There was also a House of Tools in that shopping mall. I used to go there to buy and browse their excellent choice of tools. They had another Store at Mayfield Common but both closed down over the years.

According to my memory and a 1995 article from the Edmonton Journal on the occasion of IKEA's grand opening at the Whitemud Drive location:

- Opened in Edmonton in 1978 -- 50th Street & Sherwood Park Freeway location
- Moved to West Edmonton Mall -- likely in 1985 when Phase 3 opened
- Moved to Calgary Trail & Whitemud Drive (old Eagle Hardware location, more recently Finesse Furniture) in 1995
- Moved to present South Edm Common location in 2003

I didn't listen to CHQT much in the early 80s, but my parents did. I remember on the morning show, every Friday they would have a guy singing this country-westernish song about "the last seven days", recapping the events of the previous week.

I didn't listen to CHQT much in the early 80s, but my parents did. I remember on the morning show, every Friday they would have a guy singing this country-westernish song about "the last seven days", recapping the events of the previous week.

Bob Bradburn.

My mom listened to CHQT too. I think the song started with the lyric, "This week had seven days....".

I didn't listen to CHQT much in the early 80s, but my parents did. I remember on the morning show, every Friday they would have a guy singing this country-westernish song about "the last seven days", recapping the events of the previous week.

Bob Bradburn.

My mom listened to CHQT too. I think the song started with the lyric, "This week had seven days....".

That's right. I think I read somewhere that it was originally used on the 1960s CBC show This Hour Has Seven Days, for their weekly wrap-ups, and the basic format was written by Mavor Moore.

Like most Alberta youth my age, I got unsolicited deliveries of that magazine for a few years.

Looking back, I wonder how effective it really was at keeping kids away from substance abuse. It seems to me it might have been simultaneously too square and too cool. Too square, because most of my peers seemed to view it as just some goofy educational thing that adults want you to read for your own good. And too hip, because it had articles on things like "Best Places To See A Rock Concert In Edmonton", whereas, if we're being totally honest, a kid's chances of smoking a joint likely increase if he goes to a rock concert.

So, the cool kids would have thought it was too square, and the square kids would have been encouraged to do the kind of things that increase their exposure to recerational substances. That said, I will admit that I was a (pretty square) fan of Zoot, and I wasn't inspired to go to rock concerts and take drugs.

Like most Alberta youth my age, I got unsolicited deliveries of that magazine for a few years.

Looking back, I wonder how effective it really was at keeping kids away from substance abuse. It seems to me it might have been simultaneously too square and too cool. Too square, because most of my peers seemed to view it as just some goofy educational thing that adults want you to read for your own good. And too hip, because it had articles on things like "Best Places To See A Rock Concert In Edmonton", whereas, if we're being totally honest, a kid's chances of smoking a joint likely increase if he goes to a rock concert.

So, the cool kids would have thought it was too square, and the square kids would have been encouraged to do the kind of things that increase their exposure to recerational substances. That said, I will admit that I was a (pretty square) fan of Zoot, and I wasn't inspired to go to rock concerts and take drugs.

I know someone that was involved in media similar to that back then(except his work focused on STDs, etc.) Any great, smart, witty or hard hitting messages were always shot down by "the establishment". Only dull, boring and uninteresting ever went forward.

I stumbled across this thread when I was searching for other information. I thought it deserved to be BTT. This “I Remember When” really got me going. I basically grew up in Old Strathcona. Reading this thread had brought forth so many memories - I remember them too!

I was born in 1964 at the General Hospital on 111 St & Jasper Ave. Mom said we lived in an apartment above Strathcona Furniture. I remember living in suites in houses on 99 St-83 Ave. Then an apartment on 102 St-83 Ave by the train tracks. I remember my parents’ friends staying overnight and saying the next day “the train woke me up” and we would say “what train” cause we were so use to it we never heard them. Then we moved to an apartment that was built on the site of the houses we had lived in on 99 St. I know/knew the area very well.

Changes to Whyte Avenue between Bonnie Doon Mall and 112 Street since about 1970, I remember many of them. Changes to BD Mall - I remember. Same with the downtown core - I remember. Mill Creek area around 82 Avenue, I remember. So many places - I remember. Many of the major news events, local celebrities, tv shows - I remember. Many of the old posts - I could bump so many of them - I remember.

Don King, in all his flamboyant reverence, referred to locals as Edmonites. Mike Tyson stated, "Most cities I've fought in were, like, cities." In reality it was cancelled due to Tyson's condition of poor ticket sales.

I remember a shop on Whyte Avenue in the 80s/90s that sold all variety of cigarettes, and there was a counter where people would sit around and smoke and chat, like a bar. It was one of the places where you were able to buy single cigarettes.

Can't recall the name, but it was in Old Strathcona somewhere, probably towards 109th on the north side of the street.

Does anyone remember a instrumental from the late 50's or early 60's (I think) and it had a title that was something to do with space (space race etc).
I remember a family member playing it from a C D. I can remember the tune but that's about it and it's driving me a bit crazy as I knew the name of it but just cant think of it right now.

I remember a shop on Whyte Avenue in the 80s/90s that sold all variety of cigarettes, and there was a counter where people would sit around and smoke and chat, like a bar. It was one of the places where you were able to buy single cigarettes.

Can't recall the name, but it was in Old Strathcona somewhere, probably towards 109th on the north side of the street.

I remember a shop on Whyte Avenue in the 80s/90s that sold all variety of cigarettes, and there was a counter where people would sit around and smoke and chat, like a bar. It was one of the places where you were able to buy single cigarettes.

Can't recall the name, but it was in Old Strathcona somewhere, probably towards 109th on the north side of the street.

Burlington's Tobacco? It's still there, next to When Pigs Fly.

Yeah, that might be it. I can't believe it's still there. I was sure that they would have somehow been in violation of the new tobacco-sale laws.

You used to be able to go into a back room, and they had all the packages on display, sort of like a museum. But now I'm assuming they'd all have to be behind the counter and covered up.

^ Actually that lot across the street from Chateau Lacombe has been vacant (if memory serves) since ~ 1985 and maybe even earlier. I remember being in the Chateau Lacombe's Blackbeard restaurant 1978 but I don't have a recollection of the area.

There used to be a movie theatre just south of Jasper Avenue, a Cineplex Odeon I believe, a bit east of the High Level Bridge.

Was this called Park Plaza? And if so, did it stand where that big read building called Park Plaza is now?

The Odeon was on Jasper Ave just east of 101 street. The Capitol Square Cinemas was right next to the Odeon. Up 101 Street was the Rialto. The City Centre 9 Cinemas (Eaton Centre Cinemas) were close to the Chateau Lacombe on 102 Street 102 Ave.

Yeah, I was always into movies. My favourite hang outs were the Paramount, Odeon, Rialto, Capitol Square, Londonderry, Westmount and the Plaza. Went to a few drive-ins at the beginning, like the Twin Drive In.

I remember when the Christmas lights on Whyte Avenue consisted of a bunch of single-wires, each strung from one side of the street to the other, with lights on them. This would have been the late 70s or so. It really drove home just how much of a pathetic, has-been of a street Whyte was in those days.

Late 70s. Hmm. I can’t recall much from then but I do know that within a couple years Whyte was full of great little shops and restaurants that lasted for a number of years and I spent a lot of time there with various people. That was before all the bars took over where I’d say it entered its depressing phase.

Late 70s. Hmm. I can’t recall much from then but I do know that within a couple years Whyte was full of great little shops and restaurants that lasted for a number of years and I spent a lot of time there with various people. That was before all the bars took over where I’d say it entered its depressing phase.

I don't mean to be overly negative, but let's put it this way. There was a time when Whyte Avenue hosted two porn theatres, the Princess and Studio 82, within a few minutes walk of one another. Nothing against porn, but two theatres of that nature is usually not considered a sign of cultural or economic vitality.

And yes, it was the early 80s when things took off for the better. By the time I became aware of the Princess around '82 or so, it was showing art films and classics, and I think Studio 82 closed down shortly afterwards.

The bar-strip era has indeed been a downer, though for somewhat different reasons than the 70s dead-zone was. And personally, if I had to choose, I'd take the 70s over now for Whyte Avenue culture. I still prefer the area east of the tracks, where some of that old culture still remains, than the area between the Strath and 109th.

I lived there then. 103, 9725-82 ave. it was called Marplex Manor in those days. A different name now. Frequented the Strath, Commercial, the Park, the Inn on Whyte was new then. Shopped at Safeway across the bridge, now a thrift or goodwill store. Went to Fullers restaurant everyday for years, now Humptys. Went to Studio 82 now and then. The Gainers plant was still there then on Mill Creek ravine and the tracks still made their way there, now a trail. Amazing how the meat packing plants, which employed thousands, all left town. The Gendalls trailer factory was on 99st and I worked there. There was the Bruin Inn across from 99st News, later Owl drugs. Used to hang out in the Bruin Inn and play the Juke Box a lot. Walked the ravine a lot. Hung out with Richie people. Had a lot of fun in those days. Lots more stuff but that's 40 and more years ago now. Time flies.

I remember when the Christmas lights on Whyte Avenue consisted of a bunch of single-wires, each strung from one side of the street to the other, with lights on them. ...

And the lights, multi-coloured and uncoordinated as they were, looked like they were picked from the spare parts bin; leftovers from the Jasper Avenue displays. "Maybe they'll replace the burned-out bulbs next year." SAD!

Princess Theatre played porn? News to me. I seem to recall restoration work and then lots of interesting old movies. Moreover I think that I was going there before I had two long term girlfriends (at two diffferent times) living just off Whyte, so that’s why I spent more time on Whyte in the ‘80s.

Though I didn't realize they had ended their involvement with the genre as long ago as 1976. I'm now wondering if they were showing it at the same time as Studio 82, or if Studio picked up the slack after the Princess switched to Rep.

Thanks for the memories, Drumbone. Was the Marplex located in the same row of buildings as the Red Lantern etc? I had numerous friends who lived in various buildings in that stretch over the years, most notably the Tessier.

Though I didn't realize they had ended their involvement with the genre as long ago as 1976. I'm now wondering if they were showing it at the same time as Studio 82, or if Studio picked up the slack after the Princess switched to Rep.

Thanks for the memories, Drumbone. Was the Marplex located in the same row of buildings as the Red Lantern etc? I had numerous friends who lived in various buildings in that stretch over the years, most notably the Tessier.

Yup. Another block east of the Red Lion. Next building to Sherwood Manor, east side.

Thanks Spill and Drumbones for confiring that I didn't just hallucinate those drab Xmas lights.

Originally Posted by Drumbones

I thought they still had them. Lol

A google on "Whyte Avenue Christmas lights" turned up this image. Tastefully modest, without a sign of the single-stringers anywhere.

Back to the cinematic culture, someone from Ritchie once told me that Studio 82 used to show kids films on Saturday afternoon, during the same era when they were mostly showing nudies. I'm guesing that would cause a bit more of an outcry if someone tried it today; probably a few lawsuits after some parents found out where their kids had gone to see Pete's Dragon.

Though I didn't realize they had ended their involvement with the genre as long ago as 1976. I'm now wondering if they were showing it at the same time as Studio 82, or if Studio picked up the slack after the Princess switched to Rep.

Thanks for the memories, Drumbone. Was the Marplex located in the same row of buildings as the Red Lantern etc? I had numerous friends who lived in various buildings in that stretch over the years, most notably the Tessier.

Other trivia: The provincial museum used to play old British comedies.

Though I didn't realize they had ended their involvement with the genre as long ago as 1976. I'm now wondering if they were showing it at the same time as Studio 82, or if Studio picked up the slack after the Princess switched to Rep.

Thanks for the memories, Drumbone. Was the Marplex located in the same row of buildings as the Red Lantern etc? I had numerous friends who lived in various buildings in that stretch over the years, most notably the Tessier.

Other trivia: The provincial museum used to play old British comedies.

Do you mean under the auspices of the Edmonton Film Society? The Society was still using that venue as of December 2015.

Story about Taras Ostashewsky, former manager of SU Records in Hub Mall. He passed away on June 13.

Brings back memories of one of Edmonton's best records store:

I’ve been told by more than person that when they saw the movie High Fidelity starring John Cusack it reminded them of SU: the record store as bohemian clubhouse, and the queasy feeling, as a customer, that you might be snickered at if you inquired about a record deemed insufficiently hip.

But I like to think we were a little more elevated than that. For one thing, we had our classical room, overseen by Stewart Lemoine, whose career as Edmonton’s much-loved playwright began while he was still at the store. More to the point though, we were all music fanatics in our various ways, and we truly wanted you to be like us. If I was rude to anyone, please allow me this opportunity, better late than never, to say I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.

A big part of the store’s mystique was its role as importer of records from the U.K. and Europe, things you could not access any other way pre-internet.

I remember when ETS bus drivers were required to open their doors and check for oncoming trains when driving over a railway track. Often it seemed that the procedure was merely done as a formality, with the driver not even slowing down or looking out the doorway.

(Or are they STILL required to do this? I probably haven't taken many buses that go over railway tracks for a while.)

I remember paying $5 in December 1979. I bought tickets for a large group, aprox. 40 people, for the opening of Star Trek at the Paramount. I had set it up in advance with the manager of the Paramount to get them before the box office opened to minimize disruption. When I arrived early, there was already a large line up but I went straight to the office. The manager wasn't there and the assistant manager claimed to have no information on our deal and that he would not allow me to purchase the tickets.

I started walking to the back of the line and a friend called me over and let me in line. (I know, bad me). When I got the the ticket office, I put the stack of $5 bills on the counter, pushed them through the window and ordered 40 tickets. The cashier looked very confused and turned to look at the assistant manager who was standing in the doorway. The manager pushed the cashier aside and started ringing them up all on one ticket. Old style mechanical cash register so you couldn't do a # @ $ calculation, you needed to push the Adult button once for each ticket. The final ticket was about 2 1/2 feet long. The manager opened a second door into the lobby and my people started filing through as he counted.

Sorry, I didn't pay for movie tickets in the late 70s, mom and dad did, lol. I remember that $1 bought you quite a bit back then though, you'd walk out the corner store with quite a haul of candy/pop.

I do remember $2.50 Tuesdays in the 80s though.

HaHa, me too. It wasn't until later when I was old enough to go DT I started to pay.
I do recall an One Seat, One Price thing at that time, but I'm just wondering what the price was.

Originally Posted by kkozoriz

I remember paying $5 in December 1979. I bought tickets for a large group, aprox. 40 people, for the opening of Star Trek at the Paramount. I had set it up in advance with the manager of the Paramount to get them before the box office opened to minimize disruption. When I arrived early, there was already a large line up but I went straight to the office. The manager wasn't there and the assistant manager claimed to have no information on our deal and that he would not allow me to purchase the tickets.

I started walking to the back of the line and a friend called me over and let me in line. (I know, bad me). When I got the the ticket office, I put the stack of $5 bills on the counter, pushed them through the window and ordered 40 tickets. The cashier looked very confused and turned to look at the assistant manager who was standing in the doorway. The manager pushed the cashier aside and started ringing them up all on one ticket. Old style mechanical cash register so you couldn't do a # @ $ calculation, you needed to push the Adult button once for each ticket. The final ticket was about 2 1/2 feet long. The manager opened a second door into the lobby and my people started filing through as he counted.

I still have the ticket.

$5 in 1979? Hmmm, I wonder if prices varied from theater to theater. The Paramount was an advanced theater compared to the Odeon or the Rialto. Or was it because you had advance screening?

And the topic of odd things in residential neighbourhoods reminds me of the tall windmill that someone in Ottewell had in their backyard, which could be seen from quite a distance. I think it disappeared decades ago.

Hey, I wonder if anyone can help me recollect the name of an arcade game, early 80s. Not exclusively Edmonton(as far as I know), but it was at various arcades and shops around town.

It seemed patterned after Berzerk, that is, you ran around from room to room, killing bad guys. Except that instead of a robotic dystopia, it was a medieval-castle sort of setting, and you were killing snakes and(I think) skeletons etc, depending on which room you were in. I think you used arrows to kill them, but I'm not sure. Maybe there was a treasure in each room that you were supposed to snatch as well?

And there was an Evil Otto-type last-ditch adversary: some sort of giant spider or something. Like Otto, he would materialize whenever a player got too far ahead in the game, and there was nothing you could do to kill him, you just had to escape from the room.

Hey, does anyone remember what movie tickets went for in the late 1970s? I vaguely remember paying $1.25. Also, wasn't it one price? One seat, One price. No Adult/Child category yet.

I recall at the age of 32, paying about $15 for my girlfriend and her mom and I to see "Return of the Jedi" in 1983 at the Jasper place theatre. I did see the movie Titanic in 1980 at the old Rialto theatre and I think I paid $2.50.

Here's a link about movie ticket prices overall. Not sure if its Canadian or American ticket pricing.

Hey, I wonder if anyone can help me recollect the name of an arcade game, early 80s. Not exclusively Edmonton(as far as I know), but it was at various arcades and shops around town.

It seemed patterned after Berzerk, that is, you ran around from room to room, killing bad guys. Except that instead of a robotic dystopia, it was a medieval-castle sort of setting, and you were killing snakes and(I think) skeletons etc, depending on which room you were in. I think you used arrows to kill them, but I'm not sure. Maybe there was a treasure in each room that you were supposed to snatch as well?

And there was an Evil Otto-type last-ditch adversary: some sort of giant spider or something. Like Otto, he would materialize whenever a player got too far ahead in the game, and there was nothing you could do to kill him, you just had to escape from the room.

I remember playing this game at the Safeway in Ottewell Plaza.

I never did like arcade's but I remember the video game console Bill had at Dark Star comics where "Taco's on Whyte" is/was is now. I dropped a lot of quarters in that console. That's about the only arcade game I ever played.

Hey, does anyone remember what movie tickets went for in the late 1970s? I vaguely remember paying $1.25. Also, wasn't it one price? One seat, One price. No Adult/Child category yet.

I recall at the age of 32, paying about $15 for my girlfriend and her mom and I to see "Return of the Jedi" in 1983 at the Jasper place theatre. I did see the movie Titanic in 1980 at the old Rialto theatre and I think I paid $2.50.

Here's a link about movie ticket prices overall. Not sure if its Canadian or American ticket pricing.

Anyone removed what the milk trucks looked like? I can’t recall them but remember the deliveries. ECD or Silverwood’s. Also. I know that at some point they looked very close to the one pictured below.

This is Silverwood’s in Toronto (a Divco Milk Truck):

Found this below. Old pictures at link.

Edmonton City Dairy & Barns (E.C.D. Co. Ltd.) was started by Warren Prevey around 1926. The building was known by a 15-metre- high 7 258 kilogram steel plate milk bottle that was built on special order in New York City, assembled in Edmonton, and hoisted into place on the roof.

It served not only as a local landmark but also as the condensers, which converted steam into water, for the dairy’s refrigeration system. The dairy later became known as Silverwood Western Dairies but the earlier name could still be seen on the bottle, which remained on the roof until 1977, when the building was demolished.

...
“Milk was delivered by horse and buggy for many years. One of the first dairies to operate commercially, or as a business, in Edmonton was the West End Dairy, which was located by 1899 at what is now at 110th Street and 99th Avenue.

In 1911, Warren Huff started a commercial dairy from his farm, and, by the 1920s it was called Jasper Dairy. The dairy continued to operate until 1966, when it...”